Aam Aadmi Party(AAP) today demanded to probe the role of Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal in the Rs.10,000 Cr. chit fund scam in Punjab and sought the intervention of Governor of Punjab to hand over the investigation of scam to Central Bureau of Investigation(CBI).In a statement here AAP state convener Gurpreet Singh Waraich said that the chit fund scam was going on in Punjab for the last over six years and the accused enjoyed poilice and political protection. Such a big scam could not be possible without the involvement of high ups. He accused Sukhbir Badal for protecting the accused and misusing his position of Home Minister to stall the probe. He said that about 2.50 lakh gullible investors were duped by chit fund companies, mushroomed during SAD-BJP regime and Sukhbir Badal has not even taken notice of the reports of in the media.Waraich said that FIR against six chit fund companies was registered only on the orders of Punjab and Haryana High Court and still no accused is arrested. The Finance Minister Parminder Singh Dhindsa who met the victims on December 24 2016 had ordered the probe into the multi-crore scam but no action has been initiated so far.
He said that the investors have lost the hopes of return of their hard earned money. A farmer Harpreet Singh Khalsa of Chhajli village had even committed suicide as he had lost his Rs.9.8 crores to chit Fund Company. Many others had attempted suicides.AAP convener asked Sukhbir Badal to clarify that who had allowed the chit fund companies to operate in Punjab and why he had not ordered to arrest the culprits. He said that first chit fund scam was reported in July 2015 though the reports of during innocent people started in year 2010 onward. The accused are still roaming free and accused are being given time to dispose off their movable assets and destroy the records. The promoters of chit fund companies have raised Malls and other assets from investor's money.Waraich said that the victims had formed Crown Chit Fund Company Sangharsh Committee and police is buying time to record their statements. He said that situation is volatile and more investors can commit suicide if justice is not delivered to them.